Buckle



Patented @et ld., 1924. i

ARTHUR B. FAULKNEB., OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA,

BUCKLE.

Application filed December 19, 1923.

T 0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. FAULK NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to buckles and more particularly to snap buckles, and the principal object is to provide an improved device for quickly and securely fastening together, the ends of straps, belts and the like.

Other objects are to provide a strong and durable device of the character described,

which will not break under heavy strains in# cident to use on harness or trunk straps, and which will reduce the tendency of the attached strap or belt., to slip or stretch.

A further object is to` provide a light,

vserviceable and readily releasable buckle of novel design, which may be conveniently applied to belts or straps used for various purposes.

A still further object is to provide a buckley of the character described, which will be simple in construction, attractive in appearance and inexpensive of manufacture.

The l invention `will first be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a piece of stamped metal, ready to be formed into the main part of the buckle.

Fig. 2 is a similar piece of stamped metal, ready to be formed into the cooperative part of the buckle.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stamped piece of metal shown in Fig. 1, bent where indicated by the dotted lines therein, to `form the main part of the buckle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stamped piece of metal shown in Fig. 2, bent where indicated by the dotted lines therein, to form the cooperative part of the buckle.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled buckle in open position, the strap to which it is secured being also shown.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same in closed position.

Serial No. 681,619.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the buckle shown in Fig. 6.

- Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the assembled buckle in inverted position, the strap being omitted, and

Fig. 9 isI a sectional side elevation of the assembled buckle, illustrating a slight modification in the manner of securing the buckle to one end of a strap or belt.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figs. 1 and2 illustrate the blank or stamped pieces of flattened metal which are turned or bent where indicated by the dotted lines, to form the main part 10 and the cooperative or secondary part 11 of the buckle, said parts being shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 1.

`The side portionsV of the metal blank shown in Fig. 1 are turned or bent substantially at right angles at two points, in order to form a bottom 10aL for the main part 10, underlying the rectangular open space in the top surface thereof, so that an openeended shell or casing is thus provided. The side extremities of the part 10 are curved or beveled, as shown, so that the marginal edge of its respective top surfaces may be pressed down over these beveled ends when the lat ter are bent into place, thus effecting a finished and attractive appearance for the ends of the buckle, while the sides of the metal. blank .shown in Fig. 2 are bent at one point only.

The inner marginal edge of the larger top surface on the part 10, is slightly turned or bent upwardly to provide a lip 12, while the bottom 10a' underlying the rectangular open space, is formed with rivet holes 13 and an elongated opening or slot 1li, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Alined elongated slots 15, are also formed in the inner opposing sides of the main part 10 at one end thereof, through which the extremities of a uniting rod or pin 16 are extended for the purpose of effecting a swiveled and yielding attachment of the cooperative part 11 of the buckle, to the main part 10.

For such purpose, axially alined holes 17 are provided in the free ends of the side portions of the part 11, which are spaced sufliciently apart to transversely straddle the part 10, the holes 17 in the part 11 thus corresponding with the slots 15 in the part 10,

i. -so ythat the l. eirtremities of the rody or pin 16 lmay-flee. extended through t-he sides kof the first mentioned part, the ends of therod or pin being thereafter vblunted or headed to securely swivel .the two parts together.

f i The marginal edge of the surface on the v part 11, confronting the lip 12 formed at the. edge of the top surface of the part 10,

is slightly depressed to form an opposing lip surfaces thus providing an edectiye snap-- 18, adapted to underlie the former, the cenfronting and opposed lips in the lrespective two ends of theV latter fastened securely together when the partv 1-1 is ldepressed and snappedcooperatively into place over the main part 10 of the buckle. The ,extremity of the pin 19 Will be inserted and extend partially into ,the slot 1e in the bottom 10a When t-he two-parts of the buckle are snapped together, and Vmay move freely therein (longitudinally of' the buckle) so f, i thatthe yieldable and swiveledfpart 11 may begdrawn forward sufficiently to disengage the opposed surfaces 10' and j11 and quickly unfasten thejbuclrle.

, `@ne end of fthefstrap or belt QO'is inserted Within the main partA `10 of the buckle and l and n.. i

`perniainently 'secured tot-he bottom thereoft, preferably .by means of rivets 121 passing through the st-rap and through the rivet -holes 113 provided in 'the bottom 10a, (see Figs. '5.

Referring to Fig. 8 in which ltheasseni'bled buckle' is 'shown inverted, 'a .cross-piece 22 is provided, said piece having-an extremital shoulder .Ier -pregtuberance formed on either end adapted to nt and extend through the v narrow slots-15 formed in the inner opposingsides fof the main 4part 10 to hold the same. rigidly 'lodged or supported in place, preferably adjacent the rod or pin 16, land substantially parallel thereto. Saidcrosspiecefearries yan eliptical or .segmental l,spring 2 3, ,the ends fof the latter being adapted to press againstfthe ends' ofthe rod lor pin lid-,tending to push-seid pin `laterally -to- Ward 'the extreme-end ef :the buckle .with

aftension suticient -to draw hel-d the part ..1f1 wit-h its depressed marginal '1i' underlying the elevated marginal lip ofthe pant 10,th1us holding the twopants niorinally in closed E er loclredpositidn.

Referring novv to Fig. 9 in which a'slight modification lin the manner of attachingan end of a stnap for belt to-the-'niainpart of fille ,buckle tiszshoivnythe end` of the strap 20 Vis softerred .and inserted in the pa-rt. 10 03.1911 thebottemfsur-face 10,

an-d. is bent and lower sharply over and under said bottom, as shown, in the form of a loop, after which a spring-clip 24 is slipped into place over the bent strap to hold the same securely in place, Said clip being formed With an elongated slot corresponding with the slot 14 in the bottom 10CL through which the pin 19 may extend and freely move, for a purpose hereinbefore mentioned.

In use, the part 11 yieldingly swiveled kto the partA 10 is upraised as vshown in Fig.

5 so that the free end of a stra) or belt 2O maybe inserted in the buckle between its top surface and the bottoni, until the desired vhole therein lies in the trajectory of the pin 19,' whereupon the p art'v 11 is dcpressed until the lips 12 and 18 engage and snap into locked position under the Vtension of spring 23, While the pin 19 passes through the underlying -hole in 'the strap, thus engaging the same and securely holding the tiro ends of the strap togetherA It will be observed that the exterior sui'- faces of the buckle when in locked position lie snugly together in the same plane, thus giving to the buckle a very neat `and attractive appearance. lVhen it is desired to release the strap, the parts 10 `and 11 are grasped by the lingers and the part 11 is drawn slightly forward against the tens'ionof spring 23 until the lip 18 is disengaged from the lip 1-2,`Whereupon the part 11 ,may be swung upwardly, disengaging the pin 19 from the free end of the strap 20, after which the latter' may be easily Withdrawn from the buckle.

It Will be understood of course that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of partswith'- out departing from the spirit and scope of my inventioin'and 'l do not desire to be limited :by the appended claims, to the specific struct-ure hereinbefore illustrated and described. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as ynersv Vand desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States l, A lbuckle com arising an oblong body portion 4having side plates connected by upper and lower plates; there being an open space between the upper plates land one of them 'having one :edge adjacent saidl space slightly raised or upturned: and a swinging loc-king 'plate secured to said body por -tionby yieldable means to permit afslight p movement' theneof tn the direction of `the length of said body portion; said locking plate 'having one edge depressed' or downwardly turned and adapted to slip over and snap under theuptfurned edge o f'said` upper plate and .carrying a pin adapted tp' enter' registering :apertures 'iin lthe overlapping ends .of -a belt passed between said Aupper .platesland llocjkfthe several pfjzts together,

fitti 2.. A buckle comprising an oblong body portion having spaced top surfaces, a bottom and side plates forming an open-ended belt-receiving casing, one of said surfaces having a raised edge or lip provided on its exposed margin, and a swinging locking plate secured to said body portion by yield able means permitting slight movement thereof in the direction of the length of said body portion; said locking plate having a depending edge or lip adapted to slip over and snap under the raised edge or lip on said surface and carrying a pin adapted to enter registering apertures in the overlapping ends of a belt inserted between the top surfaces and bottom of the body portion and lock the several parts together.

3. A buckle comprising an oblong body portion having spaced top surfaces, a bottom and side plates forming an open-ended strap-receiving casing, one of said surfaces having a raised edge or lip provided on its exposed margin, and a swinging locking platehaving extended sides secured to said body portion by yieldable means permitting slight movement thereof longitudinally of said body portion; said locking plate being adapted to lit between the spaced surfaces of the body portion and having a depending edge or lip adapted to slip over and snap under the raised edge or lip on the adjacent top surface of the body portion and carrying a dependingl pin adapted to enter registering apertures in the overlapping ends of a strap inserted between said top surfaces and bottom and lock the several parts securely together.

4. A buckle comprising a main body portionhaving spaced top surfaces, a bottom and sides forming an open-ended belt-receiving casing, the marginal edge of one surface being slightly upturned to provide a raised lip, a swinging locking portion yieldingly secured. to the sides of the body portion and adapted to fit between the spaced surfaces of said body portion; the marginal edge of said locking portion being turned slightly downward to provide a depending lip opposed to and confronting the lip on said first named surface and adapted to snap over and underlie the lat.- ter so as to lock the two parts together, a

pin depending from the under surface of said locking portion, and a. spring adapted to resist a yielding movement of the two parts with respect to each other and hold the two parts in locked position.

5. A belt buckle comprising in combination, an oblong body portion having spaced top surfaces, a bottom and side plates forming an open-ended belt-receiving casing, a belt secured at one end to the bottom of the casing between it and said top surfaces, one of said surfaces having a raised edge or lip provided on its exposed margin, and a swinging locking plate having` extended sides secured to the side plates of said body portion by yieldable means permitting slight movement thereof longitudinally of 1 the buckle; said locking plate being adapted to close the space between said top surfaces and having a marginal depending edge or klip adapted to slip over and snap under the raised edge or lip on said top surface and carrying a pin adapted to enter registering apertures in the overlapping free end of the belt when inserted between said top surfaces and bottom, and lock the several parts securely together.

6. A belt buckle comprising `in combination, an oblong body portion having spaced top surfaces, a bottom and side plates forming an openended belt-receiving casing, a belt passing over and under said bottom, a spring-clip by which said belt is secured thereto between it and said top surfaces, one of said surfaces having a raised edge or lip provided on its exposed margin, and a swinging locking plate having extended sides secured to the side plates of said body portion by yieldable means permitting slight movement thereof longitudinally of the buckle; said locking plate being adapted to close the-space between said top surfaces and having a marginal depending edge or lip adapted to slip over and snap under the raised edge or lip on said top surface and carrying a pin adapted to enter registering apertures in the overlapping free end of the belt when inserted between said. top surfaces and bottom, and lock the several parts securely together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR B. FAULKNER. 

